Question: Why is it taking so long to complete the roadwork on Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki? The blocks between 14th and 16th avenues have been under repair for many months and appear to be stalled. The portion from Wilhelmina Rise to past 16th Avenue has been prepped, but left open with many big, unprotected bumps at the new concrete bus pads. Many of us are damaging our cars. The contractor has been filling potholes almost daily but not smoothing out the joints at the bus pads. Are they planning to leave these as they now stand or surface over them? There doesn’t appear to be any need for them except to annoy all of us forced to drive over them. (Combination of three complaints.)
Answer: The planned 16-month, $9.3 million project to repave Waialae Avenue from Kapahulu to 17th avenues has literally hit a soft spot, or more accurately, many soft spots.
Because of that, and because of a leaking water line, "Waialae is moving a little slower than we anticipated," said Chris Takashige, director of the city Department of Design and Construction.
Instead of December, the targeted completion date is now "sometime in January, pending no more complications," he said. Costs are expected to go up because of the delays.
The project, which began in July 2012, involved removing 11 inches of old pavement on Waialae and side streets and laying a new surface.
However, contractor Jas Glover Ltd. "hit what we call ‘soft areas’ after taking off the old pavement," Takashige said.
He explained that such "soft areas" could be caused by many different factors, such as rain seeping into the roadway because of cracks, washing away parts of the road foundation; "old construction methods that didn’t require the strict methods we use today"; or even leaking Board of Water Supply lines washing away the foundation.
In fact, during the pavement removal from parts of Waialae Avenue and adjacent roads, the contractor discovered a leaking Board of Water Supply pipe and is looking to see if other areas have been weakened by a leak, Takashige said.
Grace Pacific will now have to take out more subsurface material until it reaches firmer ground, then build back up what’s called "lifts," so that the pavement remains solid and firm, he said.
It takes time to put in a "fill-in lift," which requires building it up, inches at a time, compacting it, testing it to ensure it is solid, then installing another lift and repeating the process, he said.
"If the soft material is deep, as it is in some areas on Waialae, it takes time to build back up to the surface," Takashige said.
With that said, the work is anticipated to be delayed only one month at this point.
Unfortunately, the bumps and dips are signs that the roadwork is in the middle of construction.
"The contractor can’t fill holes up every day and then take it all back out the next day," Takashige said.
Meanwhile, he explained that those "white concrete expanses" are new bus pads to help alleviate any sinking of the roadway because of the weight of the buses.
It may be no consolation now, but new asphalt surfaces will be built up around the bus pads, making it a level roadway of both white and black tops, Takashige said.
MAHALO
To my surgeon, Dr. Allen Anae, and the entire amazing, kind and loving staff from every department (doctors, nurses, aides, housekeeping, nutrition, transportation, etc.) of wonderful Straub Clinic & Hospital, who got me through a perilous illness on my first-ever trip to Hawaii. The whole experience was positive in so many ways, thanks to everyone mentioned and others. Huge love to all of you. — Susan Wiseheart, age 71, Missouri
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